Chapter 10





2002

"Woah," said Cole, blinking rapidly.

"What the hell was that?" Phoebe sat up, not taking her eyes of her husband's hand.

"I think," Cole said slowly, "that I still have the Source's powers."

"That's impossible!"

"Then how else do you explain it?" Cole suddenly went up in flames and then reappeared a few feet away, standing up. "Huh." He raised his eyebrows. "That was kinda fun," he said, a grin spreading over his face. "I need to go try these powers out!" He disappeared again.

"Cole!" shouted Phoebe, but he had already gone. She looked around to see if he was still somewhere in the manor, but she couldn't find him. She stared at the spot where he had been, her mind awhirl with ten billion thoughts at once. Why hadn't the spell worked properly? And what did Cole think he was doing, actually using the Source's powers?! He of all people should know it could be dangerous!

She stood up slowly and went upstairs to get Piper. She'd know what to do. But just as she was about to knock on Piper and Leo's door she heard Pyralis start to cry. Phoebe sighed and went into her own bedroom instead, where Pyralis was sat up in her crib bawling her eyes out. She picked her up and took her tea off the nightstand, then sat on the bed with her. Pyralis calmed down a little after having a drink, but started crying again the moment Phoebe tried to put her back in her crib. Phoebe sighed. She did not want to have to deal with teething right now.

She gave Pyralis a toy to chew on and then started walking up and down the room with her, hoping she would calm down soon so she could figure out what to do about Cole. She was really starting to feel angry with him for being so stupid.

There was a knock at the door and Phoebe turned around, hoping it would be him. Instead Paige stepped into the room.

"I'm sorry," said Phoebe, "did she wake you?"

"Yeah... I wasn't sure you'd heard her from downstairs."

Phoebe looked out of the window absently. "Oh."

"So how's Cole?" asked Paige.

Phoebe looked away and let out a little sigh.

"Phoebe?" Paige raised her eyebrows.

Phoebe looked back at her sister reluctantly. "The spell... It didn't work quite how it was supposed to. Cole still has the Source's powers, and now he's gone off to God knows where to 'try them out'."

"What?!" Paige frowned. "What kind of idiot wou-" Her sentence was cut off as she was thrown through the doorway and crashed into the wall with a thump.

"Oh my God!" Phoebe rushed out into the hall and knelt down beside her sister. "Paige, are you okay?"

Paige stared up at her, more than a little confused. "Did you just throw me against the wall?"

Phoebe grimaced guiltily. "Actually... I think it was the baby."

"Pyralis? But why would she...?"

"No, no, the other baby. The one inside me."

Paige looked at Phoebe's stomach. "Okay, that's even more confusing."

"What's going on?" A sleepy looking, pyjama-clad and very pregnant Piper emerged from her bedroom, closely followed by Leo.

"Phoebe's unborn child just tried to kill me," Paige told her, getting up slowly.

"What? Y-you... That isn't normal."

"Tell me about it."

"Leo?" Piper looked up at her husband. "Is that even possible?"

"It shouldn't be... Maybe I should go talk to the Elders. I'll be back soon." Leo kissed Piper goodbye and orbed out.

"Okay Phoebe," Piper said to her sister, "Why would your baby want to kill Paige?"

"Well... It might have something to do with the fact that she called Cole an idiot."

"Paige, why would you do that?" Piper looked at her quizzically.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because he seems to think just because he's still got the Source's powers it's alright to use them?!"

Paige was, again, thrown against the wall.

"Ow!" She looked at Phoebe. "Can't you stop it from doing that?!"

"I don't think so... Sorry." Phoebe helped Paige up.

Piper was looking at them both disbelievingly. "Cole's still got the Source's powers?!"

"Yeah..." Phoebe looked guilty. "The spell didn't quite work out the way I'd planned."

"But how is that even possible?! Aren't the Source's powers a part of him?"

Paige shrugged. "Maybe they've become a part of Cole's body instead. They have been there for almost half a year."

Pyralis, annoyed that no one was paying attention to her complaints, wailed loudly.

"Look, guys," Phoebe shifted Pyralis' position in her arms, "Can we deal with this later? I really need to get Pyralis back to sleep."

"I'll do that," Paige offered. "I think you could do with some sleep too."

"Thanks," Phoebe said gratefully, handing Pyralis to her aunt. "You're a star."

"Okay..." said Piper, who would really have preferred it if they'd sorted things out now. "But first thing tomorrow we need to discuss this!"

"Okay." The other two nodded their heads, then said their goodnights and went to their separate rooms.

Phoebe didn't fall asleep for quite some time.

* * *

Phoebe was woken by Cole brushing her hair out of hair face.

"Cole..."

"Morning." He smiled.

She sat up and was about to launch into a long speech about the Source's powers and the dangers and what the hell did he think he was doing, but he beat her to it.

"These powers are amazing! I can do anything I want with them! Look, look..." He he threw a fireball at a photograph on the wall, then appeared in front of it and caught it before it could hit. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Cole! Wh-"

"Wait, wait, I haven't told you the best part yet!" He sat down next to her, excited. "I ran into a demon, right, one I've always hated but the Source kept around because he was useful. One fireball, and he was gone, just like that! Bu-"

"You killed him?"

Cole looked at her in confusion. "Phoebe, I vanquished a demon, you should be happy." He shrugged it off and continued, "Anyway, the best thing was," and here his smile grew even wider as he lowered his voice, "He thought I was still the Source."

Phoebe stared at him, mouth open, not knowing what to say anymore.

"Have you any idea what this means, Phoebe? I could rule the underworld and make sure no one ever hurt you again."

"Cole, you can't do that! You can't be the Source and be good at the same time, it doesn't work that way! We have to find a way to get these powers out of you, or-"

"No!" Cole said, surprisingly angry. "You can't do that to me Phoebe, not again! I can't live without powers, I can't function properly." He got up and walked a few paces, agitated. "You know what," he said, turning back to her, "I'll prove it to you. I'll prove that I can do it!" He disappeared, surrounded by flames.

"Cole!" Phoebe sighed in exasperation. What was wrong with him? He seemed almost intoxicated by these new powers. She understood that it had been hard for him to lose his powers last time, but these weren't even his! She could already see the effect this new freedom was having on him, and it scared her. If they didn't do something she didn't know what would happen. She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"Phoebe?" Paige knocked on the door. "Piper says breakfast is ready."

Phoebe didn't respond. She wasn't sure she wanted to go downstairs right now.

"Phoebe?"

Suddenly the door was pushed open and hit Paige in the face.

"Paige!" Phoebe shouted, alarmed, but Paige just looked at her and went downstairs, holding her hand to her bloody nose.

Phoebe followed her, stopping for a moment to look at the door. It wasn't even supposed to open outwards, some bits of wood had been broken off the edges. But that wasn't important right now. She continued down the stairs.

In the kitchen Piper was making pancakes. Leo was sat at the table next to Pyralis, reading a newspaper, and Pyralis was eating slices of apple. Paige was also sat at the table, leaning back and holding a handkerchief to her nose.

"Morning sweetie," Piper said. "How are you?"

"Not too good." Phoebe sat down and put her head in her hands. "I'm so worried about Cole, Piper, what if he goes evil again?"

Paige looked like she was about to say something, then thought better of it.

"Why is Pyralis eating an apple?" Phoebe said suddenly. "She doesn't like apples."

Piper looked back at her niece. "Oh, I peeled the skin off for her. Just like you used to eat apples when you were a kid."

"Huh. I never thought of that."

Piper shrugged. Phoebe stared into space. That revelation hadn't exactly made her feel better.

"I'm going to look in the Book of Shadows for something to help Cole," she announced after a moment, standing up.

"But you haven't eaten anyth..." Piper trailed off as Phoebe left. "Never mind..."

Paige just shook her head. She didn't think Cole wasn't the only one who needed help...

* * *

Phoebe sat in an armchair, the Book resting on her knees. The only thing she had found that was even remotely connected to Cole's situation was a binding spell, and somehow she didn't think he'd be very happy if she bound his powers without his consent. If only she could get him to see reason!

She turned the page and gasped when she saw what was written there:

Children between Demons and Witches
Extremely powerful beings who can be swayed to either Good or Evil. The powers, if any, exhibited before birth and in early infancy are good indicators as to which side the child will choose. If the powers are demonic the child should be destroyed immediately, for the greater good. Some of the most powerful and dangerous demons in history have been part witch, so this is most certainly a prudent course of action.

"You find anything?"

Phoebe jumped as she heard Piper's voice.

"No," she said, slamming the book shut. "I, uh, I'm gonna go for a walk." She snuck past her sister and went downstairs.

"Okay..." Piper said to no one. She just wished she knew what was going on in her sister's head.

* * *

The park was mostly empty. It was cold, windy and looked like it could start to rain any second, not the kind of weather most people would want to be out in. This suited Phoebe fine. She walked along the path, trying to sort her head out.

How could they expect someone to kill their own baby, even if it was "for the greater good"? It went against everything Phoebe believed in, everything she felt a good witch should believe in. Besides, surely you couldn't be certain that a child was going to be evil, could you?

Phoebe shook her head. If there was one thing she wasn't going to do, it was kill her child.

Suddenly she felt someone grab her from behind and put a knife to her throat. It was almost touching her skin.

"Hello witch," the demon hissed in her ear.

She grabbed the hand holding the knife and threw him over her shoulder. He fell in front of her and she took up a fighting stance, readying herself for his next attack. He got up slowly and then advanced, the knife in his hand and a grin on his face. He laughed.

And then Cole appeared next to him and killed him with a fireball.

He turned to Phoebe and smiled, looking at her as if expecting something.

He didn't get anything.

"A thank you might be nice," he said finally.

Phoebe remained silent. She had no idea what to say to him.

"Well, it's official," Cole said after another silence. "I'm still the Source."

"Cole..." Phoebe said with a sinking feeling. He was slipping away from her, and she didn't know how to stop it. "Why did you have to do that?" she asked, a hint of anger in her voice.

The she jumped as a dog suddenly ran up and started barking at them.

Cole killed it.

Phoebe looked at the spot where the dog had been, too shocked to say anything.

"Scruffy!" A man with a leash in his hand was staring at them from about a hundred yards away, mouth open in fear.

So Cole killed him too.

Phoebe gasped and looked at him in disbelief. He took a step towards her.

"Don't touch me!" She leapt back.

"Phoebe..." Cole didn't even seem to understand that he'd done something wrong.

Phoebe took another step back. "And don't even think of coming to the manor, or anywhere near Pyralis!"

Cole's expression now showed that he knew he'd done something to upset her. He didn't want her to go.

"Just stay away!"

Phoebe turned and ran away from him, breaking into tears at the same time. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't understand how he could do something like that!

She hadn't been able to stop it. Cole was evil.

* * *

"Phoebe?" Piper asked, watching her sister come in and rush upstairs without even acknowledging them. She looked at Leo, who was sat on the floor next to her playing with Pyralis. He shrugged. Piper got up and followed Phoebe to her room.

"Phoebe?" she said again, poking her head round the door. "Can I come in?"

Phoebe nodded. She was sat on her bed, crying.

"Phoebe, honey..." Piper went to sit next to her. "What's wrong?"

"I think I've lost him, Piper," Phoebe squeaked. "Cole... I saw him, in the park. He killed a guy, and I don't mean a demon. He didn't give it a second thought. And he's still the Source, even though it's just him in his body now, and he's happy about it! I just don't understand, Piper, why did this have to happen to me?! And my baby trying to kill my sister isn't helping, and, and," she let out a huge sob, "it's all just falling apart!"

"Oh, Phoebe..." said Piper, hugging her sister tightly.

Phoebe hugged her back, crying. "I feel so helpless."

So did Piper.

* * *

"What do you think?" Paige asked Piper that evening. She had gone up to the attic to read the Book of Shadows after work while Piper was cooking dinner, and had found the page about part-demon children.

"I don't know..." Piper looked at the book, which was lying on the kitchen table. "It seems a bit drastic. And we've never had any problems with Pyralis."

"This baby is different. Pyralis didn't have any powers until months after she was born. This one has powers weeks after conception, and I'm pretty darn sure they're demonic."

"I know..." Piper said reluctantly. "And you're probably right. But I don't think Phoebe will see it that way."

"Yeah... Okay, what if we try binding the baby's powers? Then we can use the..." Paige looked at the book, "other option as a last resort."

"Good idea. I'll mix a binding potion into her food."

"Shouldn't we tell her?"

"I dunno. I have a hunch that baby won't just let its powers be bound. It's probably best to tell her after. And put the Book back upstairs, we don't want to set off any alarms. Then you can tell Phoebe the food is ready."

"Okay." Paige closed the heavy book and took it back to the attic. When she passed Phoebe's room she heard crying coming from inside, but it had subsided by the time she got back down.

"Phoebe," she said, making sure she wasn't standing within slamming-range of the door. "Supper's ready."

"Thanks," came the muffled reply.

Paige headed back to the kitchen where Piper had just finished setting the table. They were joined by Phoebe a moment later.

"Hey sweetie," Piper said as Phoebe took a seat. "Are you feeling any better?"

"No, not really." Phoebe sighed.

"Here," her sister said, putting a plate of food in front of her. "Maybe it'll help if you eat something."

Phoebe reached for the fork, then jumped as the plate flew off the table and across the room, where it smashed against the wall right next to where Paige was standing.

"Woah." Phoebe looked up at Piper. "What did you put in that?"

Piper sighed. "A binding potion. I didn't tell you in case something like that happened." She gestured toward the pieces of shattered plate on the floor."

"Yeah, well... Obviously my baby doesn't want his powers to be bound."

"Then we only have one option left," Paige said, sitting down. She waited until Piper was seated too, then continued. "I looked in the Book of Shadows, Phoebe, and it says the best thing to do in this kind of situation..." she took a deep breath, "is to destroy the baby before it can do anything worse."

Phoebe stared at her, mouth agape. "I, I can't believe you're even suggesting this!" She looked at her sisters angrily, standing up.

Piper turned in her chair, trying to look sympathetic. "I know Phoebe, but this isn't just your and Cole's baby, he's also got a part of the old Source inside of him. And that part could turn out very, very dangerous."

"No!" Phoebe backed away from them, a betrayed look of disbelief on her face. "There is no way I'm going to kill my own baby! Especially not now that I've lost my husband."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Then Phoebe turned around and hurried back upstairs.

Paige looked guilty. "That didn't go very well."

"You're right about that." Piper sighed, then went into the sunroom where Leo was giving Pyralis her supper. "Looks like you'll be putting her to bed tonight," she told him.

"Sure." He nodded at her, the turned his attention back to his niece.

"You sure Phoebe should be away from Pyralis so much?" Paige asked as she followed Piper up to the attic.

"Not really... But to be honest, I think we should keep her away from the demon-baby. Who knows who he'll try to hurt next."

"So you agree that he's evil?"

"Ohh yeah." Piper opened the attic door and went over to the chest of witchy supplies.

"So what are we going to do about it?" Paige asked as she closed the door.

"We," said Piper, holding up some candles, "are going to get some friendly advice."

She put the candles in a circle and lit them, then went over to the Book of Shadows and started turning the pages.

"Ah, here it is."

Paige came over and looked over her shoulder. "Who are we summoning?" she asked when she saw which spell it was.

Piper shrugged. "Whoever wants to come." She took Paige's hand. "Come on."

They said the spell:

Hear these words, hear my cry
Spirit from the other side
Come to me, I summon thee
Cross now the great divide

There was a wind and some white lights appeared. A moment later they turned into the transparent figure of an older lady.

"Hello darlings," she said, smiling.

Piper smiled back. "Paige, this is Grams. I don't think you've met."

"Hi," Paige said.

"Hello dear." She smiled at Paige again and then turned back to Piper.

"I take it you need my advice?"

"Yeah..." Piper sighed and sat down on the couch. "How much do you already know?"

"Everything, dear. I've been watching."

"So what do you think we should do?" asked Paige, sitting next to her sister.

"The same thing you do. You have to convince Phoebe that destroying her child is the right thing to do, horrible as it may be. If not, a force of evil may arise which is greater than any before it."

"But how?" Paige looked at her grandmother questioningly. "Like she said before, she's just lost her husband."

"Yeah," said Piper, "But why did Cole turn evil, anyway? He never turned back when he was still part demon."

"Well, you know the saying." Paige looked at her and shrugged. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"I agree that that's the main reason. It was just too much to handle, especially all at once," Grams told Piper.

"I guess that makes sense." Piper looked up at Grams. "And you also agree that vanquishing Phoebe's baby is the best thing to do?"

She nodded. "Most definitely."

Piper sighed. "Then I guess we'll have to do it. One way or another, we'll have to convince her."

* * *

"You are going to have a little baby brother. Yes you are. A little baby brother to play with..."

Paige entered the kitchen and raised her eyebrows at Piper. Piper shrugged and made a face. She didn't know what to do.

Phoebe was giving Pyralis her breakfast and telling her all about the little brother she was going to have. Not good.

"Phoebe..." Paige started.

Phoebe glared at her.

Paige sighed and went to help Piper with the food.

"Now what?" she asked under her breath.

"I don't know..." Piper looked over at Phoebe. "I don't think she's in a very receptive mood."

Paige shook her head. "How the hell are we supposed to do this?"

"You're gonna be his big sister," Phoebe was saying. She took Pyralis' hand and put it to her stomach. "So you'll have to watch out for-"

She tensed with a sharp intake of breath. After a second she looked up at Pyralis' face and slowly got to her feet, a look of shock on her face.

Pyralis grinned at her.

This was obviously too much. Phoebe fled into the living room.

Pyralis, confused at her mother's sudden departure, started to cry.

Piper and Paige looked at each other. Then by silent agreement Paige went to calm Pyralis down and Piper went in search of Phoebe.

She found her sat on the couch in the living room, staring into space with eyes wide and her mouth slightly open.

"What did you see?" she asked gently, sitting down next to her.

"A boy," Phoebe said quietly, the expression of shock still on her face. "About three years old... He was laughing, and he had a fireball in his hand. And in front of him was a little girl, and she was backing up against the wall... That wall right there," she said, pointing to the wall by the stairs. "And she was screaming for her mommy, but nobody came. And then her back was touching the wall and she waved her hand, kinda like Prue used to do, but nothing happened, so she tried to run... And then he killed her. And Piper," she looked at her sister, and Piper saw tears starting to form in her eyes, "I just know that girl was Pyralis."

"So the boy was..."

Phoebe nodded, sniffing. "Piper, I don't know what to do."

"I think it looks like you're going to lose one of your children." Piper looked at her sympathetically. "And you're going to have to choose which one."

Phoebe shook her head. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Well..." Piper put an arm round her. "You can either choose your unborn son, who will probably kill Pyralis and turn out evil, or you can choose your daughter, who is in the other room right now wondering where you've got to and loves you more than anything."

Phoebe sighed. "I know. We have to do it. But Piper," she said, shaking her head, "I feel horrible already."

"I know sweetie. But it really is for the best, you've gotta remember that."

Phoebe nodded. After a moment they went back into the kitchen. Phoebe picked Pyralis up our of her chair and kissed her on the head, then looked at Paige. "I guess it's time to get this evil out of me."

* * *

By the power of the sun, the stars and the moon
Remove this baby from my womb

Phoebe chanted, holding her sisters' hands.

Nothing happened.

"Is that it?" Piper asked Paige.

"Hang on." Paige went over to the book. "No... There's supposed to be a bright glow. I don't think it worked."

"Great," said Piper. "Now what?"

"I have an idea..." Paige grimaced. "But you're not going to like it."

"What, what is it?"

"Well... I could orb the baby out of Phoebe and then you could blow it up."

"Eew."

"Yup."

"Phoebe?" Piper turned to look at her questioningly.

"I just want this to be over with." she shook her head. "Do what you have to do."

"Okay..."

"Okay?" Paige asked.

Piper nodded.

Paige took a deep breath. "Baby!" she cried, holding out her hand.

A mass of red slimy stuff appeared in her hand. Then it moved, which made Piper jump. She blew it up, and little bits of red flew everywhere.

"Eew." Paige shook her hands.

Piper looked at Phoebe, who had her hands on her stomach was staring at the hand Paige had held her baby in.

"You okay?" Piper asked.

Phoebe looked at her. "I need a walk," she said, then rushed downstairs, trying not to cry.

"Phoebe!" Piper started after her, then felt a sharp twinge in her stomach. "Uh-oh..."

"What is it?" Paige asked from the other side of the room, picking Pyralis up from her spot on the floor.

"I think I just had a contraction."

"You sure it's not just Braxton-Hicks?" Paige came over and put a hand on her sister's stomach.

"I don't know." Piper shook her head. "It doesn't matter though, I need to find Phoebe."

"Piper, your due date isn't for another three weeks. We need to get you to hospital."

"But-"

"No buts! Phoebe will be fine. Come on now, I'll drive."

* * *

Phoebe was anything but fine.

She stood in the elevator in the penthouse, wringing her hands. She needed to see Cole. She wasn't sure why.

When the doors opened he was sat at the table, eating a bagel and working at the computer at the same time. He looked up.

"Phoebe..." he said, surprised.

She took a few steps towards him. "I..." she tried to hold back her tears, "I killed our baby. I thought you should know..." She sniffed.

He came over to her and hugged her, she didn't resist, instead hugging him back.

"I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again," he whispered.

"Yeah, well... I just..." she pulled away from him a little. "I'd better be going," she said. But she didn't move.

Cole looked at her for a moment. Then he kissed her.

She kissed him back.

"I love you," Cole told her when they broke apart.

"I thought evil couldn't love."

"Then what is it I'm feeling right now, stronger than ever before?"

"Oh Cole..." She hugged him again. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

"It doesn't."

"What do you mean?"

He pulled away and put his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Stay with me, Phoebe. We can rule the underworld together, we can do whatever we want! No more worrying, no more losing people fighting evil... We can get Pyralis, and-"

"No," she cut him off. She looked at him. He wasn't sure what she was saying no to. "Not Pyralis. I can't even think about her right now... Every time I do, I see that little boy I just killed, and I feel so guilty I just want to lie down and die..." She looked away. "I'm a terrible mother anyway, she'll be better off without me."

"Phoebe, you're not a terrible mother."

"Yes I am! What kind of mother kills her own child?!"

She started to cry. Cole pulled her into another hug.

"I'll deal with that later, okay?" she said after a moment.

There was a pause.

"Does this mean you're staying with me?" Cole asked.

She looked at him. "We can do whatever we want?"

He nodded.

"No more worrying?"

"No more worrying."

"And no more people I care about dying?"

He shook his head. "No more people dying."

She took a deep breath.

"Yes."

Author's note: Well, well?! What did you think? Huh, huh?! Do you think that's a plausible reason for them turning evil? And Piper blew up Phoebe's baby! I tried my best not to make that part to gross, I was going to have the baby have black Source eyes or make a noise or something but then I thought that would be a little over the top. Anyway, the main thing I want you to tell me is IS IT PLAUSIBLE? I mean, the reason they turn evil (okay, they're not really that evil yet... It's gonna be a gradual process) and the reason Piper feels so guilty and the reason they left Pyralis behind (though that last thing will be extrapolated on more in the next (and probably last) "past" chapter). And I did tell you it would be long... Anyway, please review because I really want to know if my reasoning was sound, and also my characterization, and well, yeah. I'm kinda excited to have finished this chapter, can you tell?